User Reviews

Actually stumbled in here because of a need to use the bathroom! In preparation of a 370 mile drive and the need to be alert, especially in the near-constant lane jumping that is standard on I-5 between the Skagit Valley and Seattle, I'd loaded up on caffeine during breakfast. I was heading home to Spokane and was in no great hurry, and had the idea of stopping at Big Star to check out their selection. They were closed, so I'd decided to hit Uber was open so I could try another couple of beers from their incredible selection, but they weren't open yet. In desperation from the overabundance of coffee consumed in the morning, I'd remembered reading on BA that Duck Island was just down the street. I raced down Aurora on foot and made it just in time!

Once I was feeling relieved of my burden, I decided to order a beer. Thinking a crisp pilsner would be nice, I ordered a Trumer pils (the only one of the style on-tap). After that, I had a pint of Monkfish. The service was prompt, and the Monkfish was poured into a Chimay goblet, so extra points for glassware. The bartender made conversation with me but didn't hover, which was nice, since I was the only one there at first. While it's no Uber, there was a decent selection split between micros and import, with the one macro being the once-local Rainier. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of overlap between here and Uber, so perhaps they keep tabs on one another. Prices were on average $4/pint, which seemed about average around Seattle.

Like Uber, the atmosphere was cozy, split between a couple of different small rooms. Everything seemed to be clad in shiny sheetmetal, which was a little odd, but original. It was early in the afternoon, so it wasn't too crowded, but it wouldn't take much to crowd the place.

If Uber is closed or too crowded, you could do a lot worse than this place, and its only a few blocks down the street.

This is a cool beer bar, with fun staff and even more colorful locals. Small place, the door pulls open, not push, also watch that first step up to the bar! Awesome jukebox selection, got a pool table, and a couple different small rooms. I love a beer bar that has Ranier on tap, and they do! This bar is a little out of the way of seattle proper, and looks very inconspicuous, but since it's right near uber, and a greasy spoon diner right next door, you want to go to this area of town. The decor is tap handles hanging from the ceilings and punk rock red. I liked this bar and it is a dont miss in Seattle.

Duck island is just a short walk down 99 from Uber tavern and right next to Beths cafe. A good night out is starting out at Uber, walking down to duck island and then getting some drunken late night food at about 3am at Beths. Great tap selection, with some real surprises sometimes. Also they have a decent bottle selection and recently they got a full liquor license so you can bring your non beer drinking friends here as well. This place can get pretty busy, but there is a fair amount of space so it usually doesn't feel too crowded if you move away from the bar.

Been told to hit this place by my beer-aficianado friends for some time and finally got around to it.

Right next door to a famous Seattle breakfast-joint Beth's. 12-egg omelet if anyone's interested. Actually, you can order from Beth's menu and they'll bring it over to the bar, though we were just out for pints.

A very small, low-ceiling'ed place which must have been awful before the indoor smoking-ban in Washington. It would have been a huge disservice to have the smoke smothering the enjoyment of such an amazing tap-roster (a small but respectable bottle selection as well): I spotted 90-minute IPA and Ruination right off the bat, they also had Walking Man Impy Stout (tasted my buddies pint - WOW). For about twenty taps total, this place is all business: a Flanders Sour, La-Chouffe Hobgoblin IPA (which I had), Orval and another Belgian or two, then a who's-who of about 10-12 Pacific NW Brews including two taps from the new Lazy-Boy Brewery. The beer list revealed they have special cask ales on-tap every Tuesday. Not too over-priced either, my La-Chouffe and a schooner of Ruination was $9.

Great jukebox, definitely a local-heavy hangout - most people seemed to know one another. Bartender was somewhat cold and slow following-up with us, but he had a busy bar as well. Was much more friendly as the evening progressed. Will definitely be heading back here.

After driving by for over a year and ignoring the place (It looks like nothing special on a stretch of Aurora Ave that most people fly by) a friend told me that I should check it out. After a first visit, I've been back twice in a couple-three weeks time.

It's a pretty small pace but what got my attention is the Lucifer tap tower on the bar. (No Lucifer on tap but a very cool decorative item. The bartender told me that they used to try to keep it on tap but distribution of kegs in Washington are pretty hard to get these days. I've only seen it on draght once.) Anyway, there's a small bar area with about 10 stools and another small room of tables inside. Various beer memorabilia decorates the bar.

Bartenders are friendly and it's clear that the place has a contingent of regulars. In fact it feels very "neighboorhood" pub like and several people bounce between the bar and tables and seem to know everybody. The bartender I saw on the first visit remembered me the third time I was there. It's not a packed place so they keep up with the bar area but if you're at a table, you'll have to get up and get your beer.

Between every visit the selection has changed. I found Kwak on tap the first time replaced by St. Bernadus ABT 8 the second. They seem to keep about half the taps local micro, 1/4 Belgian and the remaining quarter a nice selection of other upscale beers. (Hitachino, Unibroue Noir were on the last time I was there.) They also have cheap American Megabrew in bottles and cans so you can take your non-B.A. friends there too.

No food, but there's a diner next door that you can order from and they'll bring it over.

Overall a really nice place. Once discovered, it's been growing on me and I think about going there more often.